Unfortunately, life isn’t like one of those road trip movies where you jump in your car, zoom into the distance and put as much space as possible between you and your troubles as the credits roll. The reality is, you’re gonna get cranky, bored and hungry. The bright side? With these expert tips and a little extra planning, you can kick road trip pain points to the curb, and actually enjoy the ride.

Keep Calm and Snack On

Along your journey try to avoid drive-thrus, instead, plan ahead and give one of these dietitian-approved snacks a try:

• Market Street snack packs
• Fresh-cut fruit
• SargentoⓇ snack packs
• Munk PacksⓇ
• Lorissa’s KitchenⓇ beef jerky
• RX Bars
• Good Culture Cottage Cheese Cups
• Chomps Jerky
• Signature Select Tuna Pouches in Water

Own Your Stops

Not to sound like a fortune cookie, but sometimes, the journey actually is the destination. Break up your drive and make the trip more fun by looking for State and National Parks along your route. Here are a few of our faves in the Southwest:

• Hyde Memorial State Park
• Palo Duro Canyon State Park
• Caprock Canyon State Park
• Big Bend National Park

Beat Boredom

You’ve counted all 99 bottles of pop on the wall and have spotted every license plate from here to Timbuktu—now what? Our go-to is a binge-worthy podcast or an audiobook from our summer reading list. Here are a couple we’re loving right now:

• Eat Smart  by Niomi Smart
• Better than Before by Gretchen Rubin
• The Little Book of Cacti and Other Succulents  by Emma Sibley

Pack for the Worst

It’s all fun and games until you’re stranded on the side of the road with a dead phone and a flat tire. In short: When it comes to road trips, you should plan for the best, but be prepared for the worst. This means:

• Remembering to check your air pressure and get your oil changed BEFORE you leave
• Checking the status of your spare tire
• Packing a basic first-aid kit containing bandages, bug ointment, DramamineⓇ and TylenolⓇ
• Bring along your trusty car charger for long trips

There you have it, folks! Now you’re ready to take on the open road. Happy trails!